Magneto-generator



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. W. LANE. Magneto Generator. No. 242,942. Patented June 14,1881.

N. PETERS. Pholo-litfiognpim Wuhingioll. D. Q

i I Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS lV. LANE, OF BOSTON, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND CHARLES WVILLIAMS, JR, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

MAGNETO-GENERATOVR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,942, dated June 14:, 1881.

Application filed April 8, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS \V. LANE, of Boston, in the county of, Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain Improvements in lilagneto-Generators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to magneto-generators of the class used for signaling in telegraphic and telephonic circuits, and has for its object to provide improved means for automatically placing the generator into and out of circuit.

The invention is designed, particularly, for use in a magneto-generator in which a springretracted flexible strip or tape is employed to rotate the armature, as shown in Letters Patent of the United States issued to me April 19 ,1SS1, No. 240,428, my present improvements enabling the knob or handle of the said tape at the same time it is pulled to rotate the armature, to also open the circuit into which the currents generated by the rotation of the armature are sent, and when released to automatically cut the generator out of the circuit.

To this end my invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a plan View of a magneto-generator with the cover removed. Fig. 2 represents a section on line or 00, Fig. 1, showing the apparatus at rest or out of circuit. Fig. 3 represents asimilar section, showing the apparatus in circuit. Fig. 4 represents a modification. Fig. 5 represents a diagram of the generator and circuits.

The same letters relate to the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings,M represents a magneto-generator of the Siemens armature type inclosed in a suitable box or casing. Between the poles of the permanent magnets m m m is the ordinary rotating Siemens armature, the arbor A of which has at one end the friction-pulley d, and bears at its opposite end upon the spring S. The mechanism for rotating the armature (N0 model.)

A and provided on one side with a rigidly affixed ratchet, 1'; second, a drum, B, supported on the stud A and provided with a dog, 8, engaging with the ratchet 1', and with a spring (not shown in the drawings) connecting the drum to the standard, adapted to ro tate the drum backwardly, so thatits dog will slip over the teeth of the ratchet 1',- and, third, a flexible metallic strip or tape, I), wound upon the drum and adapted, when pulled from thedrum, to rotate the latter forward, so that its dog will engage the teeth of the ratchet and rotate the same, together with the wheel a, pulley d, and the Siemens armature, the spring of the drum retracting the tape when it is released, so that its knob or handle 1) is raised automatically after each operation, and is ready for a fresh start.

0 is a metal stop or plate, against which the knob p is firmly drawn when the tape isin its normal conditionviz., retracted, as last described. The knob 12 is made of hard rubber or any suitable insulating material; but its end or part 1), which bears against the plate 0, is of metal.

The operation is as follows: In its normal condition (the knob 19 being in contact with the plate 0) the generator is out of the mainline circuit, and an electric current coming in from line 1 (see Fig. 5) would .pass through a short circuit by the metallic surface of the generator, arbor A drum 13, metallic tape Z, plate 0, wire to, through a signal-bell, S, into line 2; the metallic end of the knob 19, held firmly to the stop-plate 0, making an electrical contact with the said plate. When it is desired to send a current to line the manipulator pulls the knob 19 outwardly, causing the metallic tape 1) to unwind, and to rotate the armature and generate electricity, as described, and at the same time automatically.break the short circuit and cut the generator into the main line, over which the current is to be sent. For, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 5, when the knob is pulled out its electrical contact with the plate 6 is broken, and the circuit is from the generator M, through the spring S, wire w, through hell S, if desired, into main line 2. Thus by one operation the currents are generated and the generator is adapted to send said currents into the circuit. It will be readily seen that when the knob p is released and allowed to rest against the plate the generator is thereby automatically cut out of the main-line circuit and the short circuit is again established.

A modification is shown in Fig. 4 which enables the tape 1) to be made of non-metallic material, said modification consisting of a bell-crank lever, Z Z, pivoted in a support, h, which is fixed to the casing or box. Asprin g, s, bears against one arm, 1, of the lever, cansin g the other arm, I, to press against the metallie end 1) of the knob 19, while at the same time the arm I rests or bears upon the metal- 'lic surface of the generator M. In this form,

as before stated, the tape 1) may be of material other than metallic, for normally the electric path or circuit will be from line 1 by the metallic surface of the generator, arm l, arm 1, metal end 1), to line 2, and when the knob and tape are withdrawn in the act of generating electricity the part 12 parts from the arm Z, and the spring 8 forces the arm l away from the contact with the generator, thus causing the electric current to pass by spring S of the armature to line 2, as before described.

As I have a pending application for Letters Patent of the United States embracing abroad claim for an automatically-broken short circuit around a generator, I do not make such a claim in the present application.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A magnetogenerator of the class described, having a metallic elosin g plate or stop, and a-flexible spring-retracted armatureoperating tape or strip having a knob adapted to normally make contact with said plate to establish a short circuit, and to automatically break said circuit when pulled to operate the armature, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the generator M, the armature-rotatin g mechanism having the knob 12, and the closing-plate c, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofl have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this th day of April, A. D. 1881.

THOMAS \V. LANE.

Witnesses:

H. G. WADLIN, O. F. BROWN. 

